Max Verstappen had little appetite for Saturday's qualifying exercise at Interlagos, admitting that the entire affair amounted to 12 hours of his life he would never get back, given that Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix will begin with the Red Bull driver starting from the back of the grid.
With an engine-related penalty already guaranteeing him a rear-of-the-field launch, the four-time world champion saw little reason to expose himself to unnecessary risks in the treacherous conditions.
He duly packed up after Q1, having already demonstrated that his speed in the wet remained as formidable as ever.
Verstappen ended the opening segment third fastest, behind Lando Norris and George Russell, after producing an outstanding first flying lap that was 1.4 seconds quicker than the benchmark at the time and four tenths faster than Lewis Hamilton.
But with nothing to gain from progressing further, the Dutchman decided his afternoon was over.
Premier League offered a better spectacle
Asked whether he had found any enjoyment in tackling the rain-soaked circuit, Verstappen made little effort to disguise his indifference.
"Not really, because I'm not fighting for anything,” he said. “My mind is already set on tomorrow, so it was just about doing a lap, not risking anything. Every lap that I did, we were up there, but for me that's not a surprise."
His enthusiasm for the afternoon had apparently been in short supply well before he climbed into the cockpit.
Like everyone else, Verstappen had been left twiddling his thumbs during the lengthy red-flag interruption, which lasted almost an hour and a half as torrential rain battered Interlagos.
Rather than fret over the conditions, the Dutchman found a more appealing way to pass the time: catching up on the Premier League.
"Watching football. Premier League," he laughed when asked how he had occupied himself.
"A lot of different games, but Nottingham Forest-Manchester City was the last one before I got into the car. It was 3-1, I actually saw a great goal just before I got back in!"
When it was suggested that watching football immediately before tackling one of the most demanding qualifying sessions of the season might seem an unusual preparation routine, Verstappen delivered the punchline.
"But I'm starting last anyway, so it doesn’t matter. I’ve lost 12 hours of my life today that I’ll never get back,” he said.
Another Interlagos miracle will be harder to engineer
Verstappen's lack of interest in Saturday's proceedings does not mean he has given up on Sunday.
Interlagos has been the setting for some of his most extraordinary recovery drives, most notably his 2024 victory from 17th on the grid, which effectively extinguished Norris' remaining championship hopes.
Last year, he went one better in terms of sheer adversity, charging from the pitlane to secure a podium finish.
However, the Dutchman is under no illusion that repeating such heroics will be straightforward with Formula 1's 2026 machinery.
The disappearance of DRS and the limitations of the new overtake mode could make working through the field considerably more complicated, particularly on Interlagos' long main straight.
"It was [possible to fight back] in the past, but now we don't have DRS anymore. And the overtake mode is very limiting around here, because of the long straight," Verstappen explained.
"Everyone is draining the battery, so your speed difference on the straight is going to be a lot less. It will be a bit like Mexico really, so it will be quite a lot harder to pass than normal."
São Paulo Grand Prix - Qualifying resultsThere is, however, one potential wildcard. More rain is forecast for Sunday, potentially turning the race into another Interlagos lottery and giving Verstappen an opportunity to make his Saturday's misery worthwhile.
After 12 hours he would rather forget, the Dutchman will be hoping the Brazilian weather has something considerably more entertaining in store.
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